BOO!

Muuwahahahahahaaaaaa!!

Ah, Halloween... a time when all Fashion Forward hounds can strut their stuff without being called garish. My kinda day!

In the past, Mom hasn't let me really do it up, but this year, I caught her when her defenses were weak, lined that up with a trip to our local discount store, and VOILÀ... instant amazing stunningness!!  (And yes, in case you're wondering, use of discount stores is officially allowable on Halloween as this qualifies under "Special Circumstances" and "Fashion Emergencies.")

Mom was very proud of me. I has fun in my outfit, and walked around actually using the little eye holes in my mask. Devilishly clever of me, don't you think? A couple of times the mask slipped a tad and I had to put my head down and walk very slowly. For some reason, this made Mom chuckle. I, however, handled it with my natural aplomb and just kept asking myself, "Would Elle MacPherson or Tyra Banks let this slow them down on the runway?? NO!! So I'll be darned if I will succumb to 'costume mishaps.'" 
 
The choice of this costume, you might ask?? Well, I was feeling a little bit prickly that day, but mostly, it was simply a matter of fashion. Red and sparkles show off my coat and eyes. We über-models must always be on the lookout for a greyt photo op... or for something particularly juicy and different in Mom's price range! BOL! I think the combination of discount and 'found in this closet you'd forgotten about' worked quite well.

Some may call it "cheap and cheesy." I prefer to call it "inexpensive exquisiteness." What about you? Are you taking full advantage of this perfect opportunity to strut your stuff? I sure hope so! If I come up to your door and bark, "TRICK OR TREAT!" you'd better have some bones ready, or the pitchfork comes out!

Stay safe and have fun!

BOO!!

Been a Long Haul Back!

Mom/Em at the keyboard this time. I just want to thank everyone for your patience as Roo has been busy playing nurse and had to miss a few weeks of her blog. I took a serious tumble on a hike with three of the dogs (the girls, of course) and have been recuperating ever since. The good news: I should make a full recovery.

The ironic part - the fall happened when the girls were being EXTRA GOOD at responding to my commands! We were in an off-leash area out in the boonies. Usually I call, wait... wait some more, and they come walking or trotting back. Well, this time Roo and Brenti decided to come at warp speed, and before I could turn around at the sound of their thundering paws and side-step them, they skidded to a stop, but not before they struck me from behind and flipped me up into the air where I did a [no doubt very lovely and graceful] cartwheel and landed on my back and head.

To their credit, all three girls stayed with me......

                                                   

                                              ......and this is what I saw when I opened my eyes:

Oh... sorry... that's what I WISH I had seen when I opened my eyes... sigh...



OK, here is [the cheap, poorly staged, fake re-enactment of almost] what I saw:

Brentina & Onyx: "Hellooooo there! Are you alive? If not, is it OK if we go all Donner Party on you in order to survive??"

  

Roo: "I hope you made arrangements in your will to leave me to someone with money for hats."

Dogs know when their owner is not doing well and these girls were so careful with me as I slowly realized I was alive and in one piece, was finally able to breathe after having the wind knocked out of me, then limped back to the car. While recuperating at home, it's as if Brenti and Roo (my two rough and tumble girls) called a Time Out. They were quiet and docile... at least until I was better able to move and fend for myself! Now that I'm getting back to work, all bets are off and the household is again filled with scampering and growling and play bows and body slams... but they are playing AROUND me instead of ON me the majority of the time.

While I was temporarily living in a wonderful pain-pill-induced haze, my dogs, my FABULOUS local and online friends, and my very understanding bosses and co-workers made all the difference in the world to me. At work, schedules were shifted in order to give me sufficient 'down time' to feel better. Friends brought me food, helped me feed the dogs, were so very supportive, and even loaned me a wonderful grabby thingy so I could pick stuff up off the floor (a godsend since I couldn't bend down and the floor was getting pretty cluttered as I kept dropping things... thank you, Hydrocodone). You, my online friends, were also supportive and kept cheering me on, letting me know I wasn't alone. My dogs provided love, concern (nothing like a big snoot in your face first thing when you wake up.. "You still alive??"), gentle snuggles and the occasional laugh (ow... my ribs... ) throughout the healing process. They're amazing, these animal companions of ours.

Again, thank you all for your support and love! You have no idea how much it has meant. Seriously.
Miss Licorice Roo will be back... and with a vengeance, I'm afraid! (You know how she is!)
-Em

Always Be Prepared

We are coming into the peak of hiking season here in Northern Arizona, so all of us have been updating our hiking accessories. Brentina has a lot to learn about creating and maintaining Diva Status on the trail. My job as Official Diva Mentor never ends... sigh...

As you can see, Brentina is a minimalist when it comes to... well... pretty much anything. She only has ONE collar, ONE backpack, ONE HAT!!! (can you BELIEVE that?!?!?) I have GOT to get her out of that little rut...

 Anyway, here she is with her backpack containing only two bottles of water, Mom's camera, and a little water bowl. Brentina wears her Gentle Leader (basic black, of course) and has a BLUE leash with a [non-matching] GREEN poop bag purse. At least you can tell she is learning how to strike a pose, thank dog! My training is finally paying off... albeit in bits and pieces. 

Brentina refuses to wear a hat on her hikes. She says she likes to have her ears "free" and "flapping in the wind..." Oy... She does love her hikes, I must say, and she is very serious about her carrying duties. She's becoming a beautiful, graceful young lady. (Wow... I can't believe I actually said that... ) Mom is very proud of her on her hikes and even says she walks better than ME sometimes! I just tell Mom to chillax... I am showing enthusiasm... spunk... interest in natural minutia, if you will.

Yet again, it was left to me to step up and be a shining example of Full Hike Preparedness & Accessorization. 

I showed Brentina how to properly load her backpack up in order to maximize the hiking experience, while still cutting a fine figure on the trail and allowing everyone to see that you are prepared for anything. 

As you can see, I am fully loaded: water (on the other side since it's not photogenic and will not impress anyone on the trail), binoculars, decorative collar with bling ornament, leash with MATCHING poop purse, coat conditioner, bug spray, chap stick (yes, I have lips), paw lotion, cell phone, camera, and a poncho that goes with the whole ensemble. But something was missing... 

...Oh yeah... 

...A HAT!! 

Now, not only do I look stylish on the trail, but I am prepared for any fur emergency, sunny weather, inclement weather, photo op, bug attack, or celebrity sighting. That little backpack probably never dreamed it could hold so much greyt stuff! As you can tell, I was giddy with excitement over my Outdoor Roo look. 

The only conceivable drawback: it weighs as much as me... sigh...

Fashion is a tough business...

 

I'm Terribly Busy!

Umm... I'm busy.

Trot, trot, trot, trot trot...

Trot, trot, trot, trot, trot, trot, trot...

Trot, trot, trot, trot, trot, trot, trot, trot, trot, trot, trot, trot, TROT!

Mom: Roo... what are you doing?

Me:    Mmph... busy...

Trot, trot, trot, trot, trot, trot...

Mom: I know I'll regret this, but I'm going to ask you again. What are you doing?

Me:    Can't you see?! I am trotting very purposely with a very serious look on my face. I am busy! Very busy!

Mom: Doing what?

Me:    Stuff.

Mom: What "stuff?"

Me:    *sigh* Very IMPORTANT stuff!

Trot, trot, trot, trot, trot, trot...

Mom: I see your tail is up, your ears are up, and  you have a kinda crazy look in your eyes. I take it you're at Threat Level Orange or something?

Me:    I choose to ignore your feeble attempt at mockery. I have more important things to do.

Trot, trot, trot, trot, trot, trot...

Trot, trot, trot, trot, trot, trot...

Me:    BARK!! LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!!! IT'S IMPORTANT!!!!!

Mom: WHAT?!?! WHAT IS IT?!?!

Me:    A PINE CONE!!!

Mom: ??

Me:    It's a PINE CONE!!!! *Overly dramatic SIGH* You just don't understand. THIS is the best pine cone in the history of PINE CONES!! It fits in my mouth, it will fit perfectly between my paws when I chew it on your bed, and it's not too 'ripe.' It's just sappy enough to be the BEST PINE CONE EVER!!!

Mom: *Points* OUTSIDE!!

Me:    Wha..? Seriously?!?! This was the best pine cone ever... there will never be another one this great... I cannot BELIEVE you're making me take it outside... crap... *Walks slowly out through the doggie door, giving the Stink Eye on the way out*

Mom: Good grief, Drama Queen...

Trot, trot, trot, trot, trot, trot...

 Me:    MOM! LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!!! A TWIG!!! And it's the BEST twig EVER!!!!

Mom: Lord help me.

So, You Think You Need a Blog...

I am finally here! I went back and forth with Mom and finally wore her down. "Remember, Roo, it's up to YOU to keep it current... AAAND you have to SHARE from time-to-time, little missy." 
Yeah... right... pppfffttt!

Me:    Mom! I need a BLOG!

Mom: What? Why?

Me:    Everyone says I need one.

Mom: And just who, may I ask, is 'everyone?'

Me:   You know... "EVERYONE!"

Mom: Oh. And where, pray tell, is this 'everyone?'

Me:    Mom! Brentina says I need a blog!

Mom: Soooo... let me see if I have this right. You're basing your version of 'everyone' on your one year old Sloughi sister? Whom, I might add, totally annoys you on a regular basis?

Me:   Yes!

Mom: OK. I can see you doing that. Does SHE know she wants you to do a blog?

Trot, trot, trot, trot.... "BRENTINA!!!!! HERE!!! NOW!!!!" *whispering* "OK, now look pitiful and stare at Mom. No. You do not need to know why. But if you do this right, I might let you play with one of my toys tomorrow... maybe... or maybe that pine cone out there... "

Mom: Awwww... How's mama's little Tini girl today?? Let me kiss that little nosey of yours!! Oh Mama loves this little girlie. Yes she does! Who's Mama's tiny Sloughi?? Brentina is, that's who!!! What? You want something?? Awwww... whatever you want, sweetie!! Just tell Mama.

Me:   *BLECH!* She wants me to have a blog.

Mom: OK, sweetums, if that's what you want, Roo can have a bl... HEY! HOW'D YOU DO THAT?!?! *sigh* Dammit, Roo... Well played... crap...

Me:    *snicker* And well played to you too, Brentina. Looks like an 'Indoor Toy' is in your future.

"Well played, my little tan minion! Well played..." OK, so it took a little teamwork... I can deal with that.

So that's how it began. I hope you stop by to pick up some smiles or some ideas, and the occasional "awwwww." We appreciate you and look forward to this weekly adventure.